Three women and a man have been arrested by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command over child trafficking which they operate within and outside the state.
The development was disclosed by the Police Public Relations of the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Friday, stating that the arrest followed a complaint lodged by a woman in Ubima Community in the Ikwerre Local government Area of the state that her child was missing.
The police spokesperson said the prime suspect, who visited the family in their house a few days before the child’s disappearance was taken into custody by the commissioner of police monitoring unit.
He said the first arrest led the team to two other women and a man, who was said to be one of the suspects’ husband, while other gang members, who are reportedly in Imo State are still being trailed.
The statement partly reads, “Following up on a complaint by Ms. Precious Friday of Ubima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State that her child was missing, Operatives of the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit swung into action.
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“They arrested one Mercy Enyindah, who incidentally was said to have visited the complainant’s home shortly before the disappearance of the child.
“The arrest of Mercy Enyindah, who has confessed to having stolen the child and two other children, along with her accomplice, one Amaka Ewuzie between the weeks of February 16th and March 2023, has led to the arrest of one Chialuka Iheanacho (f) and her husband, Chukwuma Iheanacho in Delta State.”
The police told journalists that the suspects would be charged to court immediately.
While some of the rescued children have been reunited with their parents, efforts are ongoing to rescue Jasper Friday (m), two-years-old; sold at Asaba, Delta State, the spokesperson stated.
The command, therefore, requested all well-meaning and public spiritual persons to furnish the Police with information that could lead to the rescue of the child.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, also advised all residents of the state to be wary of exposing their children to visitors they do not know intimately.
She stated whenever in doubt or on the suspicion of any funny movement, residents should not hesitate to raise the alarm or call emergency police numbers that were released by the command for prompt action.